Car-coupling



(No Model.)

B. B. LAUGHTER. UAR COUPLING.

No. 605,726. Patented June 14, 1898.

Inventor lkmrdzza zfi z F237 i Ym: cram-nu, WASHINGTON, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I EDWARD B. LAUGHTER, OF LAUGI-ILIN, ARKANSAS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 605,7 26, dated June 14, 1898.

Application filed December 30, 1897. Serial No. 664,537. (No model.)

T at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD B. LAUGHTER,

. a citizen of the United States, residing at Laughlin,in the county of Columbia and State of Arkansas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplers, of which the.

following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a car-coupler by means of which the cars may be automatically coupled and uncoupled withshown in section; and Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the jaws.

The numeral 1 indicates the draw-head, and

2 2 the spring-jaws, which are adapted in operation to engage the headiof the couplingpin 3. The draw-head is open at the sides to receive the jaws, which are pivoted therein, as shown at 4 4. Within the draw-head is a check or stop block 5, which has a recessed- V-shaped portion 6 to receive the impact of the pin-head when the cars are coupled. Said block 5 is cut away in its rear portion, as shown at 7 7, to allow for the lateral play of the rear ends of the jaws and also to afford space for two springs 8 8, which normally tend to press the rear ends of the jaws out ward. The jaws 2 2 have each a slot 99 extendinglaterally through them, and the block 5 is cut away in its forward portion at top and bottom to provide two forwardly and outv wardlyextending tongues 10 10, which are adapted to fit into the slots 9 9 and form a bearing-surface and guide for the jaws. The forward ends of the grooves likewise form recesses for receiving the shoulders of the arrow-head coupling-pin. Thecut-away portion of the block necessarily forms shoulders 11 11, and these may serve as stops to limit the inward play of the jaws.

The numeral 12 indicates a rod which extends through suitable bearings to the top of the car and is there provided with a wheel at its top for turning. On the side of the drawhead are bearings 13 13 for rod 12, and between these bearings and in the same plane with the spring-jaw 2 is a cam-wheel14,which may be integral with the rod 12. A chain 15 has one end secured at a given point on the cam-Wheel 14, and extending through suitable ways in the spring-jaw and block 5 is securedat its other end. to the rear end of the opposite jaw 2. It will be readily seen that when the rod is turned the cam 14,whichnormally contacts with the jaw 2, will press the rear end of the jaw inward, while the chain 15, being drawn outward, will pull the rear end of the opposite jaw inward, thereby opening the coupler to permit the pin to be Withdrawn. The springs 8 8 will return the jaws to their normal position.

The coupling, of course, is automatic, the arrow-shaped head of the pin pressing the jaws-outward until its shoulders reach the slots. 9 9,-when the forward ends will close inward underthe operation of the springs,as will bereadily" understood. An ordinary ratchet and pawl maybe provided at the top of the car for locking'the rod12 when it has been turned to a given position.

-In order to enable the cars to be uncoupled by one standing on the ground, I provide a rod16, which extends from the draw-head outward to the side of the car. This rod has a suitable handle for turning it, and a chain connects itwith the rod 12, or the chain may be a continuation of chain 15. By turning the rod 16 the chain is Wound upon it and the cam turned to uncouple the cars, as previously described. The draw-head maybe provided with a hole 17 to receive a pin for an ordinary link-coupling in case of a break in any of the parts. With this in view I provide the coupler 3 with arrow-heads 3 at each end to adapt it for use with.my present device and the body thereof with'a longitudinal slot 3 to adapt it for use asv an ordinary linkcoupling, as plainly shown in Fig. 2.

In order that therod 12 may be adapted to operate other mechanism, if so desired, Iform the lower end thereof square, as indicated by the numeral 18.

What I claim as new is 1. In a ear-coupler the combination with the draw-head having springjaws pivoted therein, of means for opening said jaws comprising a rod carrying a cam adapted to operate one jaw, and means, such as a chain for connecting said cam with the rear end of the opposite jaw whereby to operate it, substantially as described.

2. In a car-coupler the combination with the draw-head of spring-jaws pivoted therein having lateral slots, a stop-block within the draw-head having tongues adapted to fit in said slots, a rod journaled in bearings on the side of the draw-head and carrying a cam, contacting with one of the jaws and means, such as a chain, for connecting the cam with the rear end of the opposite jaw, substantially as described.

In a car-coupler the combination with the draw-head of jaws pivoted therein having slots, a stop-block having in its forward portion outwardly-extending tongues adapted to fit in said slots, and in its rear a cut-away portion to permit lateral movement of the jaws, springs located in such cut-away portion and normally pressing the rear ends of the jaws outward, and means for forcing said rear ends inward to open the coupler, substantially as described.

t. In a car-coupler, the combination with the draw-head having springjaws pivoted therein of means for opening said jaws comprising a vertically-extending rod journalcd in bearings in the draw-head, a cam carried by said rod and normally contacting with one jaw, means such as a chain, connecting the cam with the rear end of the opposite jaw, a supplemental rod j ournaled in the draw-head, and extending horizontally outward to the side of the ear, and a chain connecting said rod with the cam, whereby, in the operation of the device the jaws may be opened from the top or side of the car, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD l3. LAUGII'IER. \Vitncsses:

.I. F. MoeALn, R. 13. VAUonAX. 

